Therapeutic electrode



(No Model.)

J. H. WOODWARD.

THBRAPEUTIC ELEGTRODB.

Patented Oct. 2, 1888.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. mma-umumprm, wa-mngwn. D, c.

` NiTnD STATES Parenti ritten,

A JAMES HARRISON VOODVARD, OF SEW'ARD, NEBRASKA.

THERAPEUTIC etecaooe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390.544, dated October2, 1888. Application filed Novemberv 91, 1887. Serial No. 955,797. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs HARRIsoN Woon- WARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Seward, in the county of Seward and State ofNebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrodes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and eXact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my newand improved electrode. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same,showing it covered with a sponge cap. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal centralsectional view of the electrode and its insulated handle; Fig. et, a topview of the electrode. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the sponge cap, andFig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the metal cup provided witha hard-rubber rim along its edges.

The same letters of reference indicate correspending parts in all thefigures.

My invention consists in a new and improved electrode which is designedto be employed to transmit aV volatile substancep-such as chloroform,ether, &c.-by means of an electric current, into a diseased part of thebody for the cure of local diseases, such as neuralgia, rheumatism,sciatica, die.; and my invention will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates a piece or blockof carbon, which is set in a metal cup, B, on the center of the back ofwhich metal cup is formed or soldered a screw, C. The outer face of thisporous carbon plate or block A is slightly concave or hollowed out, asclearly shown in the sectional view, so that it will hold the volatilesubstance to be absorbed, and thus more readily absorb the same. Whenused with a battery, a handle, D, consisting of a metal tube is used,the screw C on the back of the metal cup of the electrode being screwedinto one end of the said metal tubular handle, and this metal handle isinsulated by a covering or tube, E, of either soft or hard rubber. Thetip of the conducting-wire from the battery is secured in the other endof the metal handle D by the setscrew F, which will hold the said tip inplace in the end of the handle.

The carbon is porous in its formation, and will readily absorb anyvolatile substance and become thoroughly saturated with the same, andwill then slowly give the said substance off again. The substances mostreadily absorbed by the carbon are chloroform, ether, alcohol, most ofthe tincturcs, and some of the oils.

The mode of operation is as follows: 'The volatile substance which it isdesired to transmit into the diseased part of the bodyis placed on theslightly-hollowed porous carbon,which will readily absorb the same, andwhen sufficiently charged with the substance the electrede is applied tothe diseased part, the electric current being turned on, when theelectric current passing through the saturated positive electrode in thedirection of the diseased part, the osmotic power of the absorbentvessels are increased and the medicine in a volatile form is carried bythe electric current from the saturated carbon electrode to the partdiseased. The medicine is thus introduced into the systemphysiologically,in contradistinction to introducing medicines into thesystem hypodermically or mechanically.

By the use of my new and improved electrode, employed as described, allloca-l diseases can be successfully treated-to wit, neuralgia,rheumatism, sciatica, local inliammations of the bowels, stomach,kidneys, and spine.

In ordinary cases the carbon electrode is covered with a sponge, H,which is formed into a cap, as shown in the drawings, by stitching asoft piece of leather, I, around its lower side, the said leather piecebeing formed with the two end tongues, J J, which extend on each side ofthe handle when the sponge cap is placed in position on the electrode,and buckle into small buckles K K, which are secured to a leather strip,L, which is stitched. to the flap formed at that sideof the sponge cap,as shown in the drawings. It will be seen that by forming the sponge capin this manner it can be readily and firmly secured in a moment over thecarbon electrode by buckling 'the ends of the tongues J J in the smallbucklesKK,when the sponge cap will be held firmly in position in andover the electrode, and there will be no IOO rim, B, to insulate theedges of the carbou electrode., This rubber rim to the cup will be foundespecially useful when the electrode is to be applied without the spongecap, as it will prevent the metal of the cup from coming into directcontact with the flesh ofthe patient.

When my new and improved carbon electrode is to be used in a beltinstead of with a battery, as before described, the handle is of coursedispensed with, and the electrode is secured to the positive end of theelectric belt by a suitable screw and tap.

Instead of the sponge cap, the electrode may be covered with a cap ofchamois-skin,secured over the electrode in substantially the samemanner, so that it can be readily removed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and many advantagesof my new and im proved electrode will be readily understood. It will beseen that by 3o means of the porous carbon electrode seated in the metalcup and having the insulated handle the volatile substances can bereadily and effectively transmitted to the diseased part of the body.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is-` 1. The combination of thecarbon electrode secured in the metal cup, having a screw on its bael,and the metal handle having the threaded end and the set-screw andcovered by the rubber sleeve or tube, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the carbon electrode formed with thc concave outerface, the metal cup having the screw on its back, and the tubular metalhandle having the threaded end and the set screw and covered by therubber sleeve or tube, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the herein-described electrode, of the cap ofsoft porous material having the buckles and straps for securing it inposition removably over the carbon electrode, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto afxedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HARRISON WOODWARD.

Witnesses:

H. B. CUMMINs, G. A. KILPATRIUK.

